Blogging on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee

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£3m For Pennant?

I read today that Birmingham City were close to finalising a deal with Arsenal that would see Jermaine Pennant move to the Blues permanently, for a fee of up to £3m. The story says we’ll receive £500,000 initially, with the remaining £2.5m depending on the usual performance and appearance incentives.

Two things: Firstly, £3m is quite a lot for someone who has played just a handful of Premier League games, and who has ‘previous’. Second, I thought his contract was up in the summer? If the latter is true, and taking the former into account, who would pay £3m for someone when you could get him for free in the summer?

It is only £500,000 up front with the rest on success and appearances. I guess Birmingham want to be sure no one else steps in with more wages for him in the summer if he has a good run towards the end of the season.

Very strange indeed. Perhaps Birmingham want to sign him up before he’s available for free, since that might attract a lot of other clubs who would be willing to offer higher wages? But even then, 3 million seems a bit over the top.

I won’t complain though. that’s 3 million more to put towards signing King to be our new defensive midfielder (see last blog entry) :-p

Arsenal are entitled to a fee because of Pennant’s age. The Bosman “freebie” ruling only applies to players aged 24 or over.

I am confused about transfer negotiations outside the transfer window. Are they just setting up a deal that will be activated in the summer, or can they do the deal now because the player is already on loan and they are just making this arrangment permanent?